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PERFUNCTIONARY

PRONUNCIATION: (puhr-FUNK-shuh-ner-ee)

MEANING: adjective: Done without any interest, care, or effort.

ETYMOLOGY: Alteration of perfunctory, from Latin perfunctorius (careless), from perfungi (to get through with), from per- (through) + fungi (to perform). Note that fungus has a different origin, likely from Greek spongos (sponge). Earliest documented use: 1838.
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APER FUNCTIONARY - a person who does the routine jobs for a professional mimic

SERF UNCTIONARY - what Uriah Heep would have been back in the Middle Ages

PERJUNCTIONARY - overly connected

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POLYANDRY

PRONUNCIATION: (POL-ee-an-dree)

MEANING: noun: The practice of having multiple husbands or male mates at the same time.

ETYMOLOGY:From Greek poly- (many) + -andry (male). Earliest documented use: 1680.
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POLY-ANGRY - when you don't give your parrot a cracker

PONY AN' DRY - what I get when I don't take my horselet out in the rain

'POLY AND RYE - a shot and a board game

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HYPERNYM

PRONUNCIATION: (HY-puhr-nim)

MEANING: noun: A broad term that encompasses specific words within a category. For example, color is a hypernym of red, blue, green, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek hyper- (over, above) + -onym (name). Earliest documented use: 1971. The counterpart is hyponym.
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HYPER-NOM - a chatboard alias with ADHD

HOPERNYM - euphemism for "Pollyanna"

HYPER-NIM - a two-person game where players alternate removing one or more tokens from a multi-dimensional array of piles. Whoever takes the last token is the loser.

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ARTHROPLASTY

PRONUNCIATION: (AR-thruh-plas-tee)

MEANING: noun: The surgical repair or replacement of a joint.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek arthro- (joint) + -plasty (formation, repair, molding). Earliest documented use: 1890.
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EARTHROPLASTY - plate tectonics

ARTHROBLAST - an embryonic cell precursor that differentiates into a new joint

A.C.T.H.-ROPLASTY - genetic manipulation that alters the folding of Adreno-Cortico-Tropic Hormone, and thus its shape

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NEOPHILE

PRONUNCIATION: (NEE-uh-fyl)

MEANING: noun: One who loves new or novel things.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek neo- (new) + -phile (lover). The opposite is neophobe.
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GEOPHILE - lover of our home planet; or, a tree-hugger, if that's your persuasion.

ONE-O-PHILE - one who appreciates very close, low-scoring games

NEONPHILE - lover of brightly-colored lights

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HEIROPHANT

PRONUNCIATION: (HY-uhr-uh-fant, HY-ruh-)

MEANING: noun:
1. An interpreter of sacred mysteries or esoteric knowledge.
2. One who explains or provides commentary on complex or obscure topics.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek hiero- (sacred, priestly) + -phant (one who shows). Earliest documented use: 1676.
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HEIR TO pH: ANT - the Formicidae had a prehistoric progenitor who first produced formic acid in the species

THEIR "O'PHANT" - they had an ancestor, Patrick Phant, who founded the clan

HEIROPLANT - the Priests' potions were of vegetable origin

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EXHORT

PRONUNCIATION: (ig-ZORT)

MEANING: verb tr., intr.: To urge, persuade, advise, etc. earnestly.
noun: The act or an instance of earnest urging, advising, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin ex- (out) + hortari (to urge). Ultimately from the Indo-European root gher- (to like or want), which also gave us yearn, charisma, greedy, and hortatory. Earliest documented use: 1475.
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SEXHORT - attempt to seduce

EXSHORT - a dwarf after receiving Growth Hormone. Sometimes, anyway

EPHORT - What you get an "E" for in Spelling class. Nice try, but...no.

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EXTORT

PRONUNCIATION: (ik-STORT)

MEANING: verb tr.: To obtain something by psychological pressure, intimidation, force, threat, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin extorquere (to wrench out), from ex- (out) + torquere (to twist). Earliest documented use: 1529.
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EXTART - reformed prostitute

EXTORY - disgruntled British Conservatory

EXCORT - like Exchequer, Queens Bench, and Common Pleas, since the Judicature Act of 1873

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NEMOROUS

PRONUNCIATION: (NEM-uh-ruhs)

MEANING: adjective: Relating to a forest; wooded.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin nemus (grove). Earliest documented use: 1623.
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FEMOROUS - like a long legbone

NEMO ROUSE - wake up Jules Verne's submarine captain

ONE-MOR-OUS - ...and Baby makes three

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MEMOROUS

PRONUNCIATION: (MEM-uhr-uhs)

MEANING: adjective: Likely to be remembered; notable.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin + memoria (memory). Earliest documented use: 1530.
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MENOROUS - suitable for holding candles

MEMO: ROUST - Note: Get 'em outa here!

MAMOROUS - formally in love with a woman

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